A test that measures the thickness of the first two layers of your cartoid artery may be able to predict your risk of heart disease. But it's not for everyone—and it's costly.
Q. I heard about a test called ArterioVision that predicts your heart disease risk. Should I get it?
A. Most people don't need it, but if you're over 40 and have multiple risk factors—a strong family history of heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking and/or obesity—then it may help pinpoint your real risk of future heart problems, says cardiologist Parker Ward, MD, associate professor of medicine at the University of Chicago. ArterioVision is one company's version of a special ultrasound that measures the thickness of the first two layers of the carotid artery in your neck. The thicker they are, the more likely you are to develop heart disease, which includes heart failure, angina, stroke and heart attack. The test costs $200 to $400 and insurance may not cover it.